The MTR

  Hello guys!! :) Welcome back (or just welcome) to All Things Hong Kong:) So today has been a nice day, but I was extremely sleepy (though I've gotten almost 8 hours of sleep last night) Anyways, this is the view from my window today. Quite foggy and dark. But then the sun is going down and HK is always like this. We hate pollution too :( 

  So anyways today I'll be showing you one of the main transport systems in Hong Kong, the MTR. It is like a subway, so an underground train, and there are loads of different lines. I couldn't remember all the stations. There are more than 100 stations, I think (and thats quite a lot for a city so tiny on the world map). There's even a song with the lyrics being all the MTR stations, but that was before new stations were adding. Yes, I bet they're thinking of a new line now. Oh well. At least its convenient. 

  The MTR stands for Mass Transit Railway. The MTR runs underground, and in some stations, you can do a line exchange. There are two types of rails: Light rail (West rail, east rail,  and the 'main rail'. The light rail used to be separate from the MTR, with another train called the KCR. But then KCR joined MTR during 2007, so now there is only one train system. Below shows the MTR map with the different stations and lines. Funny how most of the lines are in Kowloon (one of the three main territories of Hong Kong. Others are Hong Kong Island and New Territories) Because the system is actually quite complicated, I would suggest you go research it if you want to know more. I know I am supposed to introduce Hong Kong stuff to you, but hey I won't cram an essay in here. It's so boring. 

  

  So yeah its pretty neat and according to Wikipedia it's one of the most efficient subways in the world. Slam-dunked!! I don't even know. The most 'busy' (the most people during rush hour and normal hours) stations (because it is where line exchange happens) are at Prince Edward, Lai King, Central, Admiralty and Kowloon Tong. At least that's what I have seen: loads of people waiting to get on the next line. So I'd assume that the reasons for that are because of the line exchange. Hey, it might not be real but at least its from the point of view from a 'Hong Konger'!! And this is a picture of the platform of Admiralty. I think it looks like that everyday, most of the time. 

  On a normal day (by normal I mean weekdays minus rush hour, which are usually around 7 in the morning, because of students to 9, because of working people, and 4-7 in the evening because people are going home) the MTR isn't very packed. Sure, all the seats might have been filled up, but there will still be quite a comfy standing place. However, during rush hour or the weekends, the MTR is so filled, you cannot move unless you're seated. The train will be filled with people and sometimes you will be stuck in an awkward position between two people. (Or maybe thats because I'm short) Ooh speaking of that this is the interior of a MTR train (with hardly any people) 

  According to one of my math teachers, the MTR had wanted each person to only occupy 1 (or 2, or 3. Don't remember the details) meters squared of standing space on the train, but because of the invention of the smart phone, the MTR holds less people because of the space needed for the phones. Technology, bruh! And this is a photo of the MTR during rush hour. It's crazy. If you're claustrophobic, you should really just take other means of transport home after school/work. 

  There is also a line just to get to Hong Kong Disneyland Resort. But first you have to go to Sunny Bay, then change to the Disneyland train, which is extremely different from the normal trains. Maybe Sunny Bay should be added to the busiest stations list. This is the Disneyland train. Quite fancy (you already know I'm in the fast lane from LA to Tokyo..... no? ok. ): ) 

   The stations I get off and on the most at is Kowloon Tong and Mong Kok. (Most of the English names are just the Cantonese pronunciation of the station) Some of the names doesn't make sense in English if you translate them literally. And here's why: 

  The way you pay for the fare is by a card called the Octopus card. It's a smart card, in which you can recharge using cash in the MTR stations (before you pass through the gates or at the customer service counters) or in 7-elevens or other convenience stores that does that for you. (There are Octopus cards for children 3-11, personalized mainly for students attending school/uni, the standard ones for adults and one for elders 65+) If you forgot your card or you don't have one, you can buy a single journey ticket. So you put your change into a machine and select your destination and type of ticket, then you press the magnetic card on the reader of the gate, and go through. When you arrive, you simply slip your card into the slot and you go do your thang. There are also tourist passes, so you get unlimited traveling for a day and so. 

(standard/adult Octopus card)

  Before you pass through the gates to board the MTR, there are always some shops that sell various things outside, as well as machines to recharge your card or to buy a single-journey ticket. Unfortunately there aren't toilets. Except in some Light/East/West rail stations. So you better go before you board. Also no eating on the trains. But then they put damn food stores in the paid areas so it's like they want you to eat on the train. Oh well. Logic right. 

    So yeah this is it, the Hong Kong MTR. I know it can be very crazy during rush hours, but once you get used to it, its not that bad. At least there's air conditioning and shops in the stations. Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed:))